“I need the number where the call came from when you get back to the office,” Duncan said. Sarah nodded. He looked at me. “And I think it’s time you took yourself off the case.”

“Me? Why?”

“He wants your attention.”

“He wants attention period. I’m just the name he knows. If it wasn’t me, it would be Sarah.”

Sarah looked a little sick at the thought.

“I’m going to talk to Dr. Benning when she gets here. But I think from now on the answer is no comment. And your answer to that should be to not print any of this.”

“It went live on Chad Hart’s blog. I bet most of the tech club follows his blog and have already seen it. And I bet they shared it, probably on social media. Have you found the camera yet to shut it off?”

“Yeah,” he said reluctantly. “He didn’t try to hide it. But back to my point, if it doesn’t end up in the paper, then he doesn’t get as much attention. We can reach out to Hart’s followers and try to put some kind of gag order in place. We need to stop the attention.”

“And what? Just pretend this isn’t happening? People should know there is some weirdo stalking our kids.”

“Or just looking for attention. In which case, you’re feeding the beast.”

“You’re just mad because this guy is making you look like an idiot.”

That was too far. I knew it as soon as it came out of my mouth. I’d been angry he was trying to blame me for this, trying to make me bury this story. But even as I said it, I knew I wasn’t being fair.

“Out,” he said. “Right now. Off the premises.”

“This is public property,” I responded, not knowing when to quit.

“And this is my crime scene. Actually…” He began looking around and called over one of the younger officers I didn’t know. “Take Ms. O’Brien back to the station and take her statement. You can take Ms. Lowman and Ms…” He came up short on her Ariel’s last name. “The one with the camera. Take them to the station, put them in separate rooms and take each of their statements. Then send them home. If they give you any trouble, cuff them and take them to the jail.”

“So much for civic duty,” I mumbled.

“Make sure Ms. O’Brien rides with you. The other two can follow.”

I gave Sarah my keys and we went to the station. I fumed in the front seat – at least Officer Sanders didn’t make me sit in the back like a criminal. But we were wasting time that should be dedicated to a story. Bill was going to freak if we came in tomorrow empty-handed.

So that’s it for now. I love hearing from you; let me know what you think!